Winter Arts Preview: Dance away the doldrums

Wednesday

Jan 29, 2014 at 8:00 AMFeb 7, 2014 at 11:30 AM

Creativity abounds on the local dance scene this winter, serving a local audience who loves both tradition and cutting edge. Fully staged ballet productions, romantic performances, classics and modern and new works will grace stages in and around the city.Boston Ballet, the big pillar of the dance scene, continues to celebrate its 50th season while no less remarkable is the contribution of smaller companies. SPUNKandCOmpany marries contemporary dance to the theme of instant gratification with "#HEREANDNOW," running Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at the Boston Center for the Arts.Modern dance company Gallim Dance returns to the Institute of Contemporary Art Jan. 31-Feb 1 to perform the Boston premiere of "Wonderland," a work that uses imagery from war, sports, and communication to investigate pack mentality.Savion Glover is widely regarded at the best tap dancer ever, and he's toe-tapping his way into The Vets in Providence on Jan. 31.Just in time for Valentine's Day, the Jose Mateo Ballet Theater warms up winter's cold with "Unbridled" Feb. 14-March 2. Presented will be three of Mateo's most popular ballets that explore the passion and complexities of human relationships.A trio choreographers present their contemporary ballets in Boston Ballet's "Close to Chuck," program that runs Feb. 20-March 2. Headlining the night is the company premiere of resident choreographer Jorma Elo's "C. to C (Close to Chuck)" with music by Philip Glass and sets by renowned American artist Chuck Close. Also on tap is the return of Jirí Kylián's transcendent "Bella Figura," and a world premiere from Spanish dancer and choreographer José Martinez.French choreographer Mourad Merzouki brings his troupe of all-male Brazilian dancers, Campagnie Kafig, to the Citi Shubert Theater in Boston Feb. 7-9. Expect a fusion of hip-hop, martial arts and circus in this dynamic show.Director and choreographer Bill T. Jones returns to the stage at the center of an acclaimed work for his renowned company formed with the late, legendary Arnie Zane. Now in its 30th year, the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company lands in Boston Feb. 21-23 at the Institute of Contemporary Arts.The ingenious and imaginative dancers from the Kate Weare Company turn up the heat at the ICA Feb. 28 and March 1.The Chinese dancers in the TAO Dance Theater of Beijing take contemporary dance to new heights and will make their Boston Debut Feb. 27-28 at the Citi Shubert Theater.Boston Ballet turns the timeless fairytale "Cinderella," into a sumptuous and expansive three-act ballet March 13-23. With Sir Frederick Ashton's choreography and Sergei Prokofiev's delightful score this production is considered to be the greatest staging of the beloved tale.From March 21 to April 6, the Jose Mateo Ballet Theater explores the circle of life in a thematic production comprised of three ballets: "Risk of Repetition" set to the Violin Concerto of Philip Glass; "Isle of the Dead" (1992), a symphonic poem composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff and "Circles" set to Alfred Schnittke.The spunky and irreverent Camille A. Brown and Dancers return to Boston at the ICA March 14-15.The producers of uber-smash "Riverdance," created a new dance extravaganza called "Heartbeat of Home," that shimmies its way onto the stage at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theater, March 26-April 5.For "Restless Creature," former longtime standout New York Ballet Dancer Wendy Whelan invited choreographers Kyle Abraham, Joshua Beamish, Brian Brooks and Alejandro Cerrudo to each create a duet, which each dances with her March 28-29 at the Citi Shubert Theatre.Los Angeles Contemporary Repertory Dance Company BodyTraffic performs "Beyond the Edge of the Frame" in their Boston debut at the ICA April 11-12.For his "New Eruptions" program, Jose Mateo presents his most recent work "Taking Turns" and will also unveil the troupe's final premiere of the season. Runs April 25-May 11.In "Pricked," May 8 to May 18, the Boston Ballet marks the return of Harald Lander's "Etudes" and offers two American premieres with "D.M.J. 1953-1977" and "Cacti."America's leading modern dance company, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, makes its annual appearance in Boston May 1-4 at the Citi Wang Theatre.The inventive Mark Morris Dance Group marries dance and opera in a performance of "Acis & Galatea," which features musical accompaniment from the Handel and Haydn Society. An East Coast premiere, the performance is May 15-18 at the Citi Shubert Theatre.Patriot Ledger staff writer Dana Barbuto may be reached at dbarbuto@ledger.com.

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